OUTRAGES BY REGULATORS OR VIGILANCE COMMITTEES.
Mr. CARSON offered the following joint resolution [S. 8.]
WHEREAS, The reputation of our beloved State has been seriously injured, since the last session of the General Assembly, in repeated instances, by the execution of prisoners accused of crime by mob violence; and,
WHEREAS, Within that time more than a dozen of persons have thus suffered death at the hands of organized bands of men, not acting under the impulse of momentary psssion occasioned by some outrage just discovered, but proceeding with a deliberate determination, that evinced a purpose to permit no law, human or divine, to stand in the way of the accomplishment of their object; and,
WHEREAS, These bold perpetrators of those henious crimes have thus far escaped detection and punishment; and,
WHEREAS, In the language of our constitution it is especially made the duty of the Governor that "he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed." Now therefore--
BE IT RESOLVED by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That for the purpose of detecting and bringing to punishment the perpetrators of those diabolical crimes and offenses, and also for the purpose of detecting and bringing to merited punishment, all such as may hereafter be guilty of like grave offenses, there be set apart, out of any moneys not otherwise appropriated in the State Treasury, the sum of ten thousand dollars, to be expended by the Governor, at his discretion, or so much thereof as he may deem necessary for the purpose contemplated by this preamble and resolution, which sum shall be drawn by the Governor at such times as he shall require the same. Provided, That no greater sum shall be drawn at any time than shall be by him necessarily expended;
page: 230[View Page 230]and Provided further, that he shall report to the next General Assembly the several sums so by him drawn, for what purpose and to whom paid.
Mr. CARSON remarked that this resolution should probably more properly come from the other side of the House, but it is a matter of very great importance in view of such outrages as have been perpetrated in the southern part of the State within a few months past, and some means should be placed in the hands of the Executive to ferret out the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Without an appropriation to carry out the objects of this resolution the Executive can not employ the necessary means to accomplish the end desired. As it is a matter of so much importance I ask that the joint resolution be referred to the Committee on Finance.
It was so referred without objection.
